A child born into poverty learns all too soon that life is not fair. The fate is not very different for the child whose parent, once gain-fully employed, finds that his/her job has been eliminated due to its outsourcing to China. Children like these face a tough uphill climb to survive, let alone to be successful in today’s world.

Their parents may try to nurture and provide for these children, but think about what they are up against. The neighborhoods where they can afford to live are often unsafe with crime and drugs much more abundant than places to safely play or even walk.

Frequently, the family must swallow its pride and visit the food bank, and also must seek out donations of used clothing. Do you think people enjoy having to do this?

These parents have no books to read to their kids before bed, no quiet place for the kids to do their homework, no computer to use for research. Well, why can’t they use the computers at the school or the ones at the library? Have you thought about how they would get home? Late buses are not usually an option. Frequently the family has no car or if it does, one parent must work one shift and the other another, so that one of them can be home with the children, and that leaves no car at home.

All parents have hopes and dreams for their children. They want them to be happy, healthy, and especially in poor families, they want them to be better off than they are. It’s the American Dream! Education can be the Great Equalizer!

Hoops and Homework can extend a hand to these kids – kids, who through no fault of their own, find themselves carrying a much greater load then they should have to at such a young age. We need to level the playing ground. We need programs like Hoops and Homework!

Hoops and Homework will provide them with a safe place to work on their homework; a place staffed with volunteers to help and encourage them, equipped with computers and stocked with needed resources. Hoops and Homework will also provide them with a basketball court and volunteer coaches to teach them about basketball and teamwork and will do it in a safe environment.

Framingham is one town. Framingham does not stop at Route 9. Framingham does not stop at the railroad tracks. Framingham is one town. These are all Framingham kids and it is our responsibility to look after all of our children. Hillary Clinton tells us it takes a village to raise a child. Well folks, in Framingham it takes the entire TOWN to raise our children. I urge you to support Hoops and Homework!

Joan Rastani